A LifeRay

“…the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,”
Hebrews 6:1b

This is the foundation of salvation. Does ‘repentance from dead works’ mean you have to quit all your bad habits before you exercise faith toward God? If so, this is a real problem, for often you need God to enable you to quit them. A few years ago a couple of boys walked out on the lakebed of a lake that had been reduced to winter level. The mud was crusted over but broke through and the boys became stuck. When they realized their efforts to free themselves were futile, they cried out for help and others came and saved them.

At the moment they realized they were helpless and cried out for help, they had simultaneously turned from their own effort and had placed their faith in others for their deliverance. The same is true of repentance when it comes to salvation. Repentance of sin and faith toward God occurs simultaneously at the moment you realize you are helpless to deliver yourself from your sin, and cry out to God for deliverance.